Congress breaks up with Stephen Colbert

Most of the Jon Stewart/Stephen Colbert chatter these days is about a proposed “Rally to Restore Sanity” in Washington D.C. next month — President Obama even seemed to support it yesterday.

But not everybody is jumping on the bandwagon as Politico reports on a growing uneasiness in Washington with the Comedy Central show.

POLITICO:

“Generally, our advice is always to focus on the local media requests,” said Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesman Ryan Rudominer. “The only thing we would advise candidates against is inviting comedians to testify in character before their committee when they become members,” added National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Andy Sere. (read more)

The comedian’s recent appearance — in character — before a House judiciary subcommittee rubbed many the wrong way:

The reaction to Colbert’s appearance has been largely negative—just as it was when he spoke to the White House Correspondents’ dinner. Washington does not like this character who captures the city so well—at least not in person. (American Progress)

But it’s not just that his act hits a little too close to home, one former Capitol Hill staffer goes a little further in an interview with Politico:

“My experience with that show is like herpes. It never goes away, and it itches and sometimes flares up,” said a former aide to Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, after his boss appeared on the show in 2006.

The conservative Georgia Republican, co-sponsor of a bill requiring that the Ten Commandments be displayed in Congress, was skewered by Colbert in a segment of “Better Know a District” for appearing to be able to name only three of the commandments.

So yeah, that itchy redness? It might be Stephen Colbert. But don’t say he didn’t warn you.